SIX-RUN EIGHTH LEADS ISLANDERS TO 9-3 WIN OVER NICHOLLS

SIX-RUN EIGHTH LEADS ISLANDERS TO 9-3 WIN OVER NICHOLLS

March 28, 2008

Box Score

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The Colonels and Islanders traded runs back and forth through the sixth and seventh innings, but Texas A&M-Corpus Christi put up six runs on seven hits in the eighth to claim a 9-3 Southland Conference victory over Nicholls Friday afternoon at Chapman Field.

"We had a pretty good ballgame going up through the seventh inning," said Colonel skipper Chip Durham. "It was a pretty good pitchers duel, but their bullpen did a better job than ours did. They came in and got the job done and then they got some key hits and put some runs together."

Matt Hudec (1-0) got the win for the Islanders, facing three Colonel batters in one inning of relief. A&M-CC's starter, Omar Gutierrez lasted seven innings, giving up three runs on five hits and striking out six.

For Nicholls, Lance Dupuis (0-4) threw seven innings, allowing eight hits and four runs to take the loss. The senior right-hander K'ed five. Drew Erwin, Justin Breaux and Jacob Sullivan combined for one inning of relief for the Colonels.

Offensively, the Colonels (5-18, 1-6 SLC) were led by shortstop Keith Kulbeth, whose two-out RBI triple in the sixth got Nicholls on the board. The three-bagger was the first of the season for the Colonels. Kulbeth was brought in to score when the next batter, designated hitter Patrick Thompson singled up the middle.

Nicholls plated another in the seventh when Anthony Wray singled through the left side to drive in Walter Jones.

The Islanders (6-18, 3-4 SLC) were led by Chase Wheaton, who went 2-for-5 with a homerun, three RBI and a run scored.

"That homerun they hit and an error we made forced Dupuis to throw more pitches than he should have had to throw," added Durham. "We've got to stay positive and get ready for tomorrow's game."

The squads will meet for game two of the series Saturday with first pitch set for 2 p.m. Fans can listen live in the Thibodaux area on KTIB 640 AM or on-line at www.ThibodauxOnLine.com. Live stats will be available by clicking the GameTracker link at www.GeauxColonels.com.

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